This is one Rajya Sabha member who will not be castigated for missing a few sittings of the Upper House this session. Not merely because Jogen Chowdhury has chalked up an impressive attendance as a first time Trinamool Congress MP but because his absence would mean he was probably a mere hop, skip and jump from Parliament House, probably dashing off his Nth painting as the first Artist in Residence at Rashtrapati Bhavan, or having a tete-a-tete with President Pranab Mukherjee.

Not that he is a stranger to the grand building (he was the 'Keeper' of its art collection for 15 years nearly three decades ago) or its current occupant.

The two stalwarts of Bengal have known each other for a long time, and the artist's stature as the current eminence grise of the art scene there as Professor Emeritus of Visva Bharati University, must have played a role in his selection as the first recipient of this honour, part of a multi-pronged outreach programme by the president.

A master of ink, dry pastels and water colour (and the occasional oil), Chowdhury's works already grace the presidential abode—including a portrait of the fourth President, V V Giri. But this stint is different.

Being asked to soak in the atmosphere of the President's Estate with all its grandeur and green expanses for 14 days, and communicate the experience artistically is a different challenge. And he has taken full advantage of the president's hospitality to work till about 6.30-7 pm every day.

At the start of his two week sojourn (which ended on August 14) there, Chowdhury told ET that he was not really planning a series on the building or any big pieces. "I will work according to an artist's mood. At the moment, I'm in the mood to do some sketches. Maybe I'll also turn out some brush works and mixed media pieces. I could also focus on the wonderful foliage at Rashtrapati Bhavan. It will be entirely guided by my mood."

Appreciating the peaceful environs of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Chowdhury observed that "an artist basically creates his own surroundings" as it all depends on his state of mind and the way he looks at what is around him. "Of course, an artist's studio is always dear to him or her," he added.

Given Chowdhury's mastery in melding the traditional with the contemporary, this maiden artistic overture will yield an impressive dividend for the president, who appears keen to foster a renaissance in Rashtrapati Bhavan.